BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Residents of Darkokrom, a farming community near Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region, are demanding for the immediate arrest and prosecution of an alleged illegal miner and his armed associates following a violent attack that left one resident dead and another critically injured.
At a press briefing, residents accused an alleged illegal miner identified only as Kwaku Hero of masterminding the deadly attack after members of the community resisted attempts to allow him to remove mining equipment from a site where he had allegedly conducted illegal mining operations.
Speaking on behalf of the community, spokesperson Peter Doku expressed frustration over what he described as the slow pace of investigations by the police.
According to him, although the matter was promptly reported to the Anyinam Police, no arrests have been made, leaving residents worried that those responsible may escape justice.
Doku alleged that Kwaku Hero had been operating illegally on farmlands and in nearby water bodies despite persistent objections from residents, who accused him of causing extensive environmental destruction.
He said the miner later abandoned the site without reclaiming the land, leaving behind dangerous uncovered pits that pose a serious threat to farmers and residents.
According to the community, residents subsequently prevented the alleged miner from removing his excavator and other mining equipment, insisting that the degraded land should first be reclaimed before any machinery was taken away.
The situation, they claim, escalated when the miner allegedly returned with heavily built men riding motorbikes, who reportedly launched a violent attack on residents.Witnesses alleged that the armed group fired indiscriminately and assaulted several people during the confrontation.
During the attack, 36-year-old Jaba Edward, popularly known as Atteh, was allegedly beaten to death, while 76-year-old Samuel Nartey sustained gunshot wounds. The injured elderly man is currently receiving treatment at a health facility.
The residents have appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene and ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all persons connected to the attack.
They insist that justice must be served for the victims and warned that any further delay could undermine public confidence in the security agencies.
They further cautioned that allowing perpetrators of such violent acts to evade justice could embolden illegal mining operators and their associates to continue terrorising communities, while deepening the insecurity already associated with galamsey activities in many parts of Ghana.
